Tongs



TONGS Filed Au 11, 922 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. YANNEY'AND WALTER ID. KELLER, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE ALLIANCE-MAGHINE COMPANY, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Tones.

Application filed AuguSt 11, 1922;' Serial No. 581,266.

The present invention relates broadly to improvements in tong constructions and more particularly tongs of the type used for handlmg ingots, and carrying the same to and from soaking'pits and the like, although its use in this respect is not limited.

At the-present time it is customary to operatively support'tongs of thisgeneral charactor from a bridge crane trolley, the tongs operating motor being carried by the trolley. This makes it necessary to provide a special trolley for all such cranes. N 0t only is this practice a costly one, but it does not provide a flexible and interchangeable working'unit.

By the present invention there is provided an improved construction embodying as a unit tongs and a tongs operating motoradapted to be suspended from anordinary crane hook. This provides a flexible con struction by means of which one unit; may be used with a plurality of cranes ofany desired construction.

In the accompanying: drawings there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the-limits of this invention, as changes may be made in the construction and operation disclosedherein, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of our broader claims.

In A the 'drawings,-

Figure'l is'a side elevation, partly insection, illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure'2'is a sideview of theconstruction illustrated in Figural and Figures 3'and 4i arede'tail sectionalviews on an enlarged scale.

In accordance with this invention there may be providedasuitable frame 2 carrying at'itslower end converging guides 3 adaptedto cooperate in well known manner with the'upper end of tongs 4. Thetongs in turn maybe pivotally connected to across-head 5 operatively'secured 'to a tension rod 6 adapted to be raised-and lowered by the sheave block 7 The frame 2 may be of sectional construction and is preferably enlarged adjacent its upper end'to form a' casing S'for a tongs operating motor 9. This motor'may conveniently be rigidly supported on a'platform 10,

operatively secured adjacent one end of a three-bearing shaft 13 journaled in the frame. Adjacent its opposite end, the shaft 13 carriesza gear 14 meshing with diametri The gears" cally' positioned planet gears 15. 15 mesh with the teeth of an internal gear 16 rotatably journaled in the frame 2'con-- centrically with the shaft 13.

Each of the planet gears 15 is mounted on a stub shaft 17 securedina hub 18 rotatably mounted on a bearing sleeve 19 surrounding the shaft 13 and within-which it is rotatable.-

This hub has projecting therefrom a lug-20 towhich is'operativelv connected one end of a flexible chain 21. This chain passes freely around a sheave 22 in the sheave block 7, 3is dead-ended to the frame asindicated a The internal gear 16 is normally held against rotation by brake shoes 24 pivotally carried arms 25, each of which in turn has a plvo'tal mounting 26 on the frame 2. At their upper ends the arms 25 are urged inwardly by means of compression springs 27 cooperativly associated therewith.- The brakingaction exerted by the shoes 24 may be easily adjusted by adjusting the pressure on the springs 27. These brake shoes are preferably so set that during the normal operation of the parts the internal gear 16 will be-held'against rotation thereby causing the planet gears 15 to'travel around its inner surfaceand thereby rotate the hub 18.

It is desirable with apparatus of this character to definitely limit the lifting action of the motor with respect tothe tongs. For this purpose the-hub 18 may conveniently be'provided with a stop 28 adapted in its Adjacent the upper end of the frame 2 there may be provided a lifting pin 30 adapted to be engaged by the book 31 of a suitable overhead crane. Ihe conductor 32 carrying current to the motor 9 may obviously be extended upwardly to the bridge crane trolley,or the like, where a suitable take-up and play-out mechanism may be provided therefor.

With the present construction it will be apparent that the tongsand the operating motor therefor constitute a unit which may conveniently be operatively secured to a crane of any standard construction. After the unit has been operatively suspended in position, the motor 9 will be rotated in the hoisting direction for winding the chain 21 around the hub18 and opening the tongs. The crane will then be operated to move the tongs over an ingot. The tongs will then be lowered by means of the supporting crane until the tongs cross-head 5 rests on top of the ingot. At this time the motor 9 will be reversed and the hub 18 rotated in the opposite direction through approximately its entire movement to allow slack in the chain. Upon lifting the frame 2, by means of the supporting crane, the tongs will close by their own weight and the weight of the supported ingot.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a unit structure comprising tongs and an operating motor therefor operatively carried by a single frame and adapted to be suspended from a crane or the like of standard construction.

lVe claim:

1. In a tong construction, a frame, tongs operatively carried by the frame, and a motor carried by said frame and operatively connected to said tongs to raise and lower the tongs bodily relative to the frame, said operative connection being adapted to nor mally insure movement of the tongs relative to the frame by rotation of the motor but permit rotation of the motor independently of movement of the tongs after predetermined operation of the motor, substantially as described.

2. In a tong construction, a frame, tongs operatively carried by the frame, operating connections between the tongs andthe frame and a winding drum on the frame connected to the motor through aplanetary gear system including a brake and operative connections between the drum and said tongs, said last mentioned connection being adapted to open and close the tongs, substantially as described. I

3. In a unit tong construction, a frame, tongs operatively connected to one end of said frame, tongs operating motor adjacentthe other end of said frame, a main shaft, a winding drum on said shaft connected to the motor by a planetary gear train surrounding said shaft, and means operatively connecting said drum and said tongs, said gear train normally insuring simultaneous movement of the motor and tongs but permitting movement of the motor independently of the tongs upon predetermined rotation of the motor, substantially as described.

4:. In a tong construction adapted to be supported from a crane hook, a frame, tongs operatively connected to the frame whereby the tongs are opened and closed when moved bodily relative to the frame, a motor mounted on the frame, awinding drum mounted on the frame connected to the motor, and operative connections between the tongs and drum for raising the tongs relative to the frame for opening the tongs, said connections also being arranged to close the tongs when the frame is raised by the crane hook, substantially as described.

5. In a tong construction, a frame, tongs operatively connected tothe frame whereby the tongs are opened and closed when moved relative to the frame, a motor-mounted on the frame, a winding drum mounted on the frame connected to the motor, operative connections between the tongs and drum for raising the tongs bodily relative to the frame for opening the tongs, a stop for limiting the movement of the drum in both directions, and slip driving connections between the drum and motor, substantially as described.

6. A hoisting device comprising a frame, motor supporting means on the frame, a motor on said supporting means, a tong movably supported in the lower end of the frame and arranged to be raised and lowered bodily relative thereto, operating gears interposed between the motor and the tong for raising and lowering the tong upon operation of the motor, said frame and parts carried thereby being balanced about the longitudinal axis of the frame, whereby the frame will hang in a substantially vertical position when suspended, and means on the frame to which flexible suspending means may be attached, substantially as described.

7 A hoisting device comprising a frame, a motor in the upper part of the frame, a tong movably supported in the lower end of the frame and arranged to be raised and lowered bodily relative thereto, gearing in the frame operatively connecting the tong with the motor, said frame and the parts thereon being balanced about the vertical axis of the frame whereby the device will hang in a substantially vertical position when freely suspended, and means for flexibly suspending the frame, substantially as described.

8. A hoisting device comprising a frame, a tong operably carried by the lower end of the frame and arranged to be raised and lowered bodily relative thereto, 'a tong operating mechanism in the frame including a motor and gearing, and means for flexibly suspending the frame, said frame and the parts carried thereby being balanced to hang in a substantially vertical position when suspended, substantially as described.

9. A hoisting unit comprising a frame, a tong operably carried by the lower end of the frame and arranged to be raised and lowered bodily relatively thereto, a tong operating mechanism within the frame above the tong, said mechanism including a motor and gearing, and means on the frame for attachment with a flexible suspending device, said unit being so balanced as to hang in a substantially vertical position with the tong downward when suspended from a flexible suspending means, substantially as described.

10. A hoisting unit comprising a frame, a tong operably carried by the lower end of the frame and arranged to be bodily raised and lowered relative thereto and having its vertical axis coincident with the vertical axis of the frame, tong operating means in the frame above the tong and including a motor and gearing, hook engaging means on the frame, and a hook co-operating with the engaging means, said hook being in line with the axis of the frame, said frame and the parts carried thereby being balanced to hang vertically from the hook, substantially as described.

11. A hoisting unit comprising a frame having a reversible electric motor therein, a tong operably carried by the lower end of the frame below the motor, means operatively connecting the motor and tongs for bodily raising and lowering the tongs relative to the frame for opening and closing the tongs, said means including a reducing gearing and a winding drum, said frame being balanced to hang in a vertical position when freely suspended, and suspending means thereon, substantially as described.

12. A unit tong construction comprising a frame, a platform in the upper part of the frame, an electric motor on said frame, a tong slidably carried by the lower end of the frame, means interposed between the motor and tong for operatively connecting them for bodily raising the tongs relative to the frame, said means including a reducing gear and hook engaging means on the frame whereby said unit may be suspended from a single hood, said unit having the parts thereof balanced about its vertical axis whereby it will hang in a vertical position when suspended from a hook engaged in said hook engaging means, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a crane hook of a main frame supported thereby, a second frame slidably mounted on the first frame, tongs connected to both frames and arranged to close when the main frame is moved away from the second frame, and a motor on the main frame for moving the second frame toward the main frame to operate the tongs, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a crane hook of a main frame supported thereby, a second frame slidably mounted on the first frame, tongs slidably connected to the main frame and pivotally connected to both frames and arranged to close when the main frame is moved away from the second frame, and a motor on the main frame for moving the second frame toward the main frame to open the tongs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands. 1

GEORGE W. YANNEY. WALTER D. KELLER. 

